NEW Lithium Battery???
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,254
Likes: 4,946
From: England
A dedicated lithium battery charger has a 2 phase charge program of constant current and constant voltage.
Using constant current sees a higher voltage used to get the charging current to stay steady for the charging period. When a cell reaches its charged voltage, in this case 3.6 volts the charger switches to constant voltage to ensure the battery is not overcharged.
The charging system on a bike is constant voltage of around 14.4 volts which just happens to be the full charge voltage of a LiFePo4 battery configured out of 4 cells in series and however many in parallel to get the required ampere hour rate and CCA rate.
A dedicated charger also "balance" charges with a connection to each cell in a battery to ensure all cells reach the same level of charge - balance. Without the balance connection only slow charging a lithium battery will ensure the cells eventually balance out during charging. This is where a tender that charges at just a few hundred milliamps is actually a good thing.
Using constant voltage charging will just take longer to fully charge it.
Using constant current sees a higher voltage used to get the charging current to stay steady for the charging period. When a cell reaches its charged voltage, in this case 3.6 volts the charger switches to constant voltage to ensure the battery is not overcharged.
The charging system on a bike is constant voltage of around 14.4 volts which just happens to be the full charge voltage of a LiFePo4 battery configured out of 4 cells in series and however many in parallel to get the required ampere hour rate and CCA rate.
A dedicated charger also "balance" charges with a connection to each cell in a battery to ensure all cells reach the same level of charge - balance. Without the balance connection only slow charging a lithium battery will ensure the cells eventually balance out during charging. This is where a tender that charges at just a few hundred milliamps is actually a good thing.
Using constant voltage charging will just take longer to fully charge it.
Novice
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
From: Blacklick, Ohio
They are decent but for the price, I will stick with my regular battery. I have first hand experience with these batteries.
Pros:
Longer time between charges
13 lbs lighter for the Touring battery (Not 20) The weight difference is very impressive though.
Smaller form factor if you are tight on space
Nice push button charge indicator
More CCA during warm weather
Cons:
Cost Standard Harley battery for Touring bike is $184.99. The Lithium battery is $289.99 and then you have to spend another $69.00 for a new dual stage Tender/Charger
Less CCA in cold weather than a standard battery
I have seen 4 of them fail in a short period of time. Now these all failed on custom baggers with big stereo systems and lots of lighting. I have not seen any failures on stock bikes.
Pros:
Longer time between charges
13 lbs lighter for the Touring battery (Not 20) The weight difference is very impressive though.
Smaller form factor if you are tight on space
Nice push button charge indicator
More CCA during warm weather
Cons:
Cost Standard Harley battery for Touring bike is $184.99. The Lithium battery is $289.99 and then you have to spend another $69.00 for a new dual stage Tender/Charger
Less CCA in cold weather than a standard battery
I have seen 4 of them fail in a short period of time. Now these all failed on custom baggers with big stereo systems and lots of lighting. I have not seen any failures on stock bikes.
Last edited by KennyPowerz; Apr 2, 2019 at 11:52 AM.
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Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,590
From: South Florida
They are decent but for the price, I will stick with my regular battery. I have first hand experience with these batteries.
Pros:
Longer time between charges
13 lbs lighter for the Touring battery (Not 20) The weight difference is very impressive though.
Smaller form factor if you are tight on space
Nice push button charge indicator
More CCA during warm weather
Cons:
Cost Standard Harley battery for Touring bike is $184.99. The Lithium battery is $289.99 and then you have to spend another $69.00 for a new dual stage Tender/Charger
Less CCA in cold weather than a standard battery
I have seen 4 of them fail in a short period of time. Now these all failed on custom baggers with big stereo systems and lots of lighting. I have not seen any failures on stock bikes.
Pros:
Longer time between charges
13 lbs lighter for the Touring battery (Not 20) The weight difference is very impressive though.
Smaller form factor if you are tight on space
Nice push button charge indicator
More CCA during warm weather
Cons:
Cost Standard Harley battery for Touring bike is $184.99. The Lithium battery is $289.99 and then you have to spend another $69.00 for a new dual stage Tender/Charger
Less CCA in cold weather than a standard battery
I have seen 4 of them fail in a short period of time. Now these all failed on custom baggers with big stereo systems and lots of lighting. I have not seen any failures on stock bikes.
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